Looks like Emma Watson has officially cemented her global influence in the industry of luxury fashion.
The 30-year-old British actress, who first earned worldwide fame as Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter film series, has taken a seat on board of French luxury fashion giant Kering, the conglomerate that oversees high-end fashion brands Gucci, Balenciaga, Saint Laurent, Bottega Veneta and Alexander McQueen.
The eco-fashion advocate is the face of the Good On You app, which rates fashion brands on their ethical and sustainability credentials. Emma has also been very vocal about her advocacy on ethical fashion, often donning sustainable custom-made red carpet looks by top-tier designers.
She is joined by businessman Tidjane Thiam and entrepreneur Jean Liu as addition to Kering’s board of directors, after their names were proposed to the group on March 12.
“The collective intelligence that comes from diverse points of view and the richness of different experiences are crucial to the future of our organization. I am proud to add such impressive talents to the team,” Kering CEO and chairman François-Henri Pinault said in a statement.
Watson “is one of the world’s most popular actors and best-known activists”, Kering said in a statement after the appointment of the actress, who is also a high-profile women’s rights advocate and a UN goodwill ambassador.
She was nominated on to the board by shareholders at Kering’s AGM alongside the Ivory Coast-born former CEO of Credit Suisse Group Tidjane Thiam, as well as Jean Liu, the president of “the Chinese Uber” Didi Chuxing.
Watson will also serve as Chair of the Sustainability Committee. Known for her character in the Harry Potter film adaptations and parts in movies such as Little Women, Emma has made a name for herself through her advocacy on issues related to the women’s right and the environment. She has been a UN WOMEN Global Goodwill Ambassador since 2014. She has also guest edited an issue of Vogue Australia on sustainable fashion.
Kering has apparently made the move after having lost Stella McCartney – arguably the world’s most ethnical luxury label – to LVMH earlier this year. Recruiting Watson is a coup for Kering, which is keen to win over millennials.
Kering chairman and CEO François-Henri Pinault, who is married to Hollywood star and activist Salma Hayek, welcomed the appointments.
“Their respective knowledge and competences, and the multiplicity of their backgrounds and perspectives will be invaluable additions,” he said.
The Kering group employs more than 38,000 people worldwide at the end of 2019, with a turnover that stood at €15.9bn ($17.9bn) last year, for a net profit of €2.3bn.